"The Real Housewives" is a television franchise of voluminous proportions. With over 10 American-produced series since 2006 (each with multiple seasons and based in varied locations), a conglomerate of spin-offs, and numerous international series to boot, the Bravo network continues to attract the attention of audiences the world over. With characters, locations, and on- and off-screen drama aplenty, the franchise is both soap-opera-reality-show and cultural institution. Host Dr. Melinda Lewis joins longtime "Housewives" fan and Drexel University Director of International Admissions Christie Ruggieri to take a deep dive into "The Real Housewives" universe, where the show’s stars exhibit transgressive behavior and demonstrate how anything is possible on modern television.

"Pop, the Question" is a production of Marketing & Media in Pennoni Honors College at Drexel University.

Recorded January 18, 2023 through virtual conferencing (Philadelphia, PA, USA).

Featured Guest: Christie Ruggieri (Director, International Admissions; Alumna, Drexel University)

Host and Producer: Melinda Lewis, PhD (Director of Strategy, Pennoni Honors College)

Dean: Paula Marantz Cohen, PhD

Executive Producer: Erica Levi Zelinger (Director, Marketing & Media)

Producer: Brian Kantorek (Associate Director, Marketing & Media)

Research and Script: Melinda Lewis, PhD

Audio Engineering and Editing: Brian Kantorek

Original Theme Music: Brian Kantorek

Production Assistance: Noah Levine

Social Media Outreach: Jaelynn Vesey

Graphic Design: Zale Heller

Logo Design: Michal Anderson

Additional Voiceover: Malia Lewis

The views expressed in this podcast are not necessarily those of Drexel University or Pennoni Honors College.

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